They operated around downtown Athens, walking into bars and cafés, leaving a small note with their phone number, and instructing the owners to call them to negotiate the “fee” they would have to pay for “protection.”

These were the members of a criminal gang allegedly extorting shop owners in Patissia, Kypseli, and Agios Panteleimonas, demanding a monthly payment to prevent damage to their businesses.

Eventually, their operations were cut short by officers from the Extortion Division, who conducted a police operation and arrested five individuals—one Greek, one Egyptian, and three Albanians.

The countdown to dismantling the racket began in early February when authorities received intel about a group of five or six physically imposing men moving around Patissia, Kypseli, and Agios Panteleimonas, extorting shop owners under the guise of providing protection.

An investigation followed, reaching its climax on the night of February 12, when police observed masked individuals moving around Kato Patissia, approaching store owners and demanding money in exchange for protection.

Police officers immediately moved into the area, keeping various businesses under surveillance. As they patrolled Konstantinou Kavafi Street in Patissia, they spotted a suspicious individual standing outside a food and beverage establishment and decided to approach him. Meanwhile, inside the same venue, officers noticed four more men, two of whom were already known to authorities due to their criminal past and involvement with nightlife establishments.

After identifying themselves, the police ordered the men to exit the venue for a standard search. As they stepped outside, they became aggressive, pushing and kicking the officers as they tried to restrain them—a move aimed at preventing injuries to other patrons. Despite their resistance, they were ultimately subdued and arrested.

Among the detainees, two confessed to the extortion charges, admitting they were demanding payments under the pretense of providing protection.